The flight of dragons is a fearful, beautiful thing.
Seira watches from a balcony as they fly. Donald stands behind her in full armor. He's quiet as they fly before, in a murmur, "Somehow when I fly I never get that sort of reaction." He gestures below at the crowds of the Cauldron, who watch the dragons with rapt interest. The warm sunlight of Bytopia shines down on this all, a dual light that does not cease.
Lady Sanzha sits next to Seira and sips at a glass of pure water. Her eyes are closed, yet she murmurs, "I can hardly imagine why." Her voice is perfectly even and level, only the slightest hint of mirth in them.
"I know," Donald goes on, "One of the mysteries!" Gesturing out at the dragons, "Maybe I have to become even luckier. That might fix it."
"Why don't you go ask Garl that question?" Lady Sanzha asks, "He has the wisdom of ages."
"Maybe," Donald banters back, smiling as he focuses on Seira. "What do you think, Seira?"
"After this long I'm surprised you have to ask," Lady Sanzha comments airily, "But I suppose the obvious is oft difficult, or Creation would be a far simpler place."
"Well yeah," Donald goes on, "Besides, Seira's old enough to have the wisdom of the ages as well, right?" A glance at her, "Well, in human years. Maybe not in elf or dragon years. But that's the best part of being a blend. You can choose which work best for you."
This is your setup, just a chance to warm up before things get going.
"The wisdom of ages is easily emulated with a simple spell, anyway," Seira says with a grin of her own. "As for making the right sort of impression on others, just do what I do and show up with your avatars when you really want to leave a mark on the viewer. Worked on Lixer!"
A soft chuckle from Sanzha as she finishes her water and puts it aside. "Perhap-"
All of that fades into the background for a moment. Of all the voices in Bytopia that you are in range to hear, of those in the Cauldron. One in the crowd whispers, "Greetings from the Queen of Dragons, Seira Aryn. Are you listening?"
A man. A human. Plain. Average height, brown hair, brown eyes. Mundane. Mundane clothes, a merchant's but not flashy. Something that wouldn't get a second look in the Cauldron.
One imagines she could've contacted her directly, Seira doesn't really block divine callers. Still, she does listen while focusing closer on the speaker's surroundings. If this is some sort of violent demonstration of power, she'll need to protect the bystanders.
He's just one of many, but no signs of immediate danger.
"She wishes to treat with you in three hours," he goes on. "In the Astral. Be at the closest landmass straight out of the Cauldron's location in the Astral."
Seira assigns an avatar to watch this man via divine powers to make sure he doesn't get up to no good for the time being, even as she suddenly voices to her two friends, "I think Tiamat just asked me out. You know how there are these elite noble girl academies where someone confesses by leaving you a letter? They're really popular in elven countries! Anyway, she sent me an average totally mundane nonflashy merchant letter asking me to meet her behind the Cauldron after classes."
"Are you sure you should be telling us this?" Donald hums aloud, "Amaryl might get upset."
Sanzha, on the other hand, exhales softly. "You do know it has even odds of being a trap, a distraction or some other lure."
"That's what makes it interesting," Donald counters right back, "Someone wants you in a certain place at a certain time."
"Draconic pride means I should be there in person," Seira responds, ignoring silly innuendo. Like Amaryl would be fooled! "Want to come as avatars? There's no reason to leave our home uncovered by having everyone attend properly. She'll posture, we'll posture, maybe some interesting gossip will cross over disguised as cunning insults. Sounds like lots of fun!"
"My afternoon's free," Donald agrees, "I could use a change of pace."
Sanzha merely nods and with that...
So you're going. Okay, any prep for your trip out?
No. Seira will keep the daylong precast spells, but no special prep will happen.
Those spells are: Bibliotheca Arcana, Mind Blank, Detect Scrying, Pass Without Trace, Greater Anticipate Teleport, Nondetection, Many Moments of Prescience, Moment of Prescience, Visions of the Future.
Huh, there's a lot of daylong spells.
Reminder to use italics for OOC on board posting. Thanks.
As you head out...
Give me a d100 real quick.
20:53 <Seira> roll 1d100
20:53 <Rei-chan> Seira rolled : 1d100 --> [ 1d100=91 ]{91}
Your trip is largely uneventful. As you fly along, closer and closer...?
Chance to cast anything shorter duration or just continue on.
Tiamat's a trustworthy demon goddess, but sure, let's precast Sensual Blessing to have better senses. That's all, though.
The three of you approach. The landmass now has a sturdy, large tent set on it. Any who saw it may pay it no mind, but to your gaze it crackles with arcane energy. Potent energy, strong energy.
Seira approaches the tent, giving it a look over!
Taking 10 for Spellcraft 118 and Knowledge/Arcana 118.
It is some measure of artifact - but not one you know. Ancient without any doubt, perhaps one of the many endless treasures Tiamat has accrued over her countless lifetimes.
The tent offers safety and security you believe, as well as great luxury within. But only those with dragon's blood can properly use and appreciate it.
The tent welcomes draconic blood, Seira relays to her companions, allowing them to choose their actions. Donald definitely qualifies, and as for Sanzha... it doesn't seem dangerous for her to enter, at least.
For her part, she pulls the flap open and steps inside.
You step in with Donald. Sanzha does as well. Whatever it may do to her, it seems beneath one such as her.
Inside is a grand pavilion, far larger than it looked outside. Here is a room with a luxurious fountain of crystal clear water, designs of strange, tall, starkly white humanoids. Almost like snow given form but not quite. Dozens and dozens of passages lead deeper in, but all but one seem hazy, indistinct. That one instead stands out, as if being invited deeper within.
"I never considered the idea of a portable dungeon," Seira muses, taking that invitation. "Ah, but that sort of thing just makes you want to test it against a permanent one, right?"
"Quaint," Lady Sanzha says pleasantly, "Though I suppose it allows something like a portable demiplane, in it's way. Aurora's made lovely use out of such capabilities."
In you head. A luxurious room of piles of pillows. Here lounge dozens of strong, muscular humanoids. None seems to feel the need to wear anything, each an exemplar of masculine beauty. Yet each has the occasional hint of scale show on their skin, and at times little wisps of elemental energies come from their mouths. They lie about, as if nothing more than pleasant eye candy for the queen on the throne here.
In the back of the room sits a throne of solid gold. On this throne lounges a woman with dark, curly hair. An impossible beauty clad in delicate silks and wearing a five-fold crown of red, blue, white, green and black. With a look of amused indolence, as if stirred from some pleasant reverie, "You've arrived," Tiamat announces.
"See, this is what I like about you," Donald comments, "Attention to detail and a theme. You're doing a great job with the decadent queen look right now."
"It is mildly nostalgic," Lady Sanzha agrees, "But I doubt we're here to ooh and aah over Tiamat's boy toys."
"We are not," Tiamat smiles thinly, "We're here to talk about Tor Salinus."
She did not expect to hear that! Seira pauses despite herself, before forming a simple but comfortable chair for herself and takes a seat.
"If you're talking about finally killing him, I have dibs," she says in a conversational tone of voice.
"Oh, don't make me laugh," Tiamat says, "If I wanted that upstart dead, his head would have decorated my hoard millions of years ago."
Meanwhile Sanzha copies you, sitting at your side. Donald does not but stands guard, a firm mass of muscle, strength and armor.
"Granted," Lady Sanzha smiles without any warmth, "But he's proved surprisingly wily in all stories. A respectable display of draconic superiority. A shame it manifests as a genocidal insanity, isn't it?
"No, no, you misunderstand. I don't want to crush him like a bug. I want to face him with equivalent power and win on skill alone. Then he gets crushed," Seira elaborates, looking happy.
"Even better," Tiamat smiles, far too many bright white, shiny and doubtlessly sharp teeth seen. "I have my own agents to harvest crystalvein for my own uses. They are capable of dealing with Tor Salinus, of course. But the last time?" A slight lean forward, "Tor Salinus displayed power that eclipses his previous power. He found my servants and overwhelmed them."
A slow smile shows on her face, "You're exactly right. Someone needs to go there, find Tor Salinus and defeat him."
"Clearly. But why now?" Seira asks, genuinely curious. "I don't believe for a moment that him rising to so-called power is more than a momentary annoyance to you."
"I find the offense of him daring to strike at my agents intolerable," Tiamat's voice is a sensual purr, her gaze lingering on you. "Besides, tell me this: Were Tor Salinus ever to find a patron, whom would it be? Who is the one deity who is dark and twisted enough to welcome such an all-murdering dragon into her ranks?"
You? No, wait, clearly it's Shar. She really ruins everything.
"And nothing on Salt actually changed. That's a bit sad, isn't it?"
"Of course not." Donald snarks openly, "Now do you know this or do you only assume? Your ass is great and so is mine, but bad assumptions are still a mistake."
Tiamat actually pauses a moment at that, as if to work that one out in her head. "Hmph. Fine, crossbreed. It is merely a highly educated bit of speculation, but it fits oh so well, does it not? I wouldn't put it past Shar."
"And so, you want Seira to do your dirty work," Lady Sanzha sounds amused.
"To prove to Creation if she has the soul of a triumphant dragon or is merely a cowardly little half elf who will hide away from a true dragon like Tor Salinus when he threatens," Tiamat concludes. In that sensual voice, "Tell me Seira, are you a dragon or not?"
"Oh please, this is beneath you, Tiamat," Seira scoffs. And Donald, ugh, don't flirt with the skanks from literal hell. Wait, does that mean that flirting with Glasya is also forbidden? "Also, a dragon would ask what's in it for me. I know what you get, so where's my benefit in smiting Tor Salinus down next week rather than next decade?"
"Why, isn't all the crystalvein you'd ever want enough?" Tiamat challenges back.
"Of course not," Sanzha says immediately, "His hoard, too. All of it."
That much is obvious. "Let's make this interesting, shall we?" she proposes. "How much are you being told about the conflict on Fire?"
"Enough to know what's going on," Is the answer back, "Kossuth may well have what he's never brooked before: Competition."
"I'll take care of Tor Salinus if you pass me what information you learn about the efreet movements and Kossuth's competition, as you've put it so well. Deal?"
"Once Tor Salinus is defeated," Tiamat counters, "Not before."
"Fine," Seira agrees, standing up. "Now, if there's nothing else...?"
"Hold on a moment, my other guest has arrived," Tiamat smiles, "Why don't you linger? You know them."
"Oh?" Seira asks curiously. Can this be the sudden but inevitable betrayal?!
Alyssa will merge here shortly, so please wait shortly for that. It won't take long, she's right on her way in.
Okay
Iddy's gonna be a minute with work so...
Oh, this tent is nice. We're just getting here, Mom.
I thought so as well! And Sanzha mentioned Aurora, so it really puts things in perspective.
It's like wearing your nice armor when you meet someone. Tiamat has to present the right image.
So where are you, anyway? I'm already done with my business and it's annoying to spend time around her.
We're coming in. Oh, that's a nice fountain.
Iddy, do you need descriptions of what's here copied or have you read the thread?
I've read, but wasn't sure how much of it applies since it's nicer for dragons and I'm not actually a dragon.
Seira sits back down again, waiting patiently.
It applies, so don't worry about that.
A moment later Alyssa, Emily and Lady Honeydip come in. Tiamat regards them, "And our other guest arrives," she announces, "Join us."
"The chairs are self-service," Seira cheerfully tells them. "Hey there!"
Alyssa slightly raises an eyebrow, but nods and sits next to Seira.
"I doubted the validity of your messenger and invitation and refused initially. Once I heard Seira accepted, I decided it might be worth it to investigate."
"Guts!" Seira insists, complete with guts pose.
"I had thought to invite you, considering your...relevance to draconic issues," Tiamat says, smiling smugly.
"And what do you know of my relevance to draconic issues, exactly? The only way I become a dragon is temporarily with magic."
Seira wants to know that too! It's not via marriage, is it?
"Please," Tiamat says, "Do not take me for a fool."
Emily stays neutral if ready.
"Well, people take me as one all the time and it's not so bad," Donald points out, "They usually end up getting their asses kicked."
"And you're a dragon," Seira adds helpfully. "Of a sort. The results of hard training!"
"I want to make sure my understanding is the same as yours. I'm not, in fact, a dragon, in any significant way that I can tell. I have certainly have connections to dragons, but myself? No, I don't qualify as a dragon as far as I know."
"Foolish woman," Tiamat laughs, "Did I say you were a dragon?"
Emily's eyes narrow at that, "Then speak plainly."
"Ah, I see, I see," Lady Sanzha murmurs.
"Yes, I'm not quite sure how you're connecting me to dragons outside of Emily and Seira, so I'd ask that you be plain about it and what 'draconic issues' I'm connected to, since I don't have any regular contact with any."
"That, godling, is that your patron is a great dragon." She leans forward, "By some reckonings, that makes us siblings."
"This is painful to watch. Am I just here to see this awkward flirting?"
"My patron? My patron is Shaundakul, who helped me find the path beyond the horizon of my power and mortality. Then, the Red Knight, who helped guide and plan out my advancement and foundations, and then by Selune who gave me a plane to call my own. Unless I was helped by a dragon in disguise, I don't think I was ever helped by one."
"This does grow wearisome," Tiamat agrees, "Are you so cowardly you will not admit the truth we all know, Alyssa?"
Seira yawns. "It's been great, Tiamat, but I don't think I need to stick around for this. Can we get to the point, or should I leave you two alone?"
"Yes, well, I've already said I'm not sure about what exactly you're referring to, so if you're not going to speak plainly, the only conclusion I can come to is... You don't really know either. So if this strange verbal sparring is all you called me here for, I think I'll be leaving with Seira."
"Fine, keep your so called secrets," Tiamat declares, "Tell me then. Do you fancy yourself powerful? Able to face a great opponent and triumph?"
"What is this, practice for opening a mercenary guild?" Seira asks in disbelief. "Who else is pissing you off but not enough to take direct action?"
"It would depend on the opponent. I'm primarily a researcher, and new on the stage, but I feel I can hold my own. Why?"
Tiamat looks to Seira, a cold, quelling look. After that to Alyssa, "I trust you know of Tor Salinus?"
"Of course I do," Emily says right away.
What's going on here, Mom?
"Let me stop you right there. Tor Salinus is my prey," Seira says, standing up. "Don't even think about poaching." Her chair burns down in a golden flame without leaving ashes or ruining the tent as she heads for the exit. "A pleasure as always. Until next time."
Alyssa raises an eyebrow, "Well then. I suppose that settles that. Was that all you called me here for?"
With a disdainful look, "That's all," she agrees, a dismissal in those words.
Stop by home, I'll fill you in, Seira relays to Emily on her way out, heading for the Cauldron.
"Well, it's been... An event. As much as politeness requires me to wish you a good day, well... You're not entirely deserving of one, so I suppose, have a day will be enough."
With that, Alyssa heads out towards home!
I understand, Mom. I will.
Then to Alyssa?
Mom invited me back home to hear more about what's going on. Come with me. Whatever's happening drew us into it and I think we should understand more.
Sure, but make sure it's not a family thing, first.
Mom, can Alyssa come along for this? It isn't a family concern, is it? Alyssa didn't want to intrude if it was.
Yes, but it's not a long story.
From there the groups leave and return to the Cauldron, which...
Go ahead, Seira, this is your show.
Seira receives her daughter and guests in a gazebo at the palace gardens. After Vayley had served them with refreshments, she says, "To make a short story even shorter, Tiamat's lost a few of her agents skulking about Salt and thinks Tor Salinus teamed up with Shar to gain power. I agreed to make ending him a priority, and then that moron said she also invited you guys over. Apparently, to also ask you the same thing even after I've already agreed to her offer."
Alyssa nods, "I gathered that much, and told her the issue was solved when you left."
"How about you? Heard any rumours of Sharran plots?"
Alyssa shakes her head, "No, not currently. If you can offer a target, I'd be happy to take it into consideration."
"I guess if we spotted them left and right, she wouldn't be the queen of hiding."
"I've had Bastian looking for targets, but nothing especially interesting has been found. She excels at that."
"Strange," Emily reflects, "Why would she want the two of us to work together? That has to be her plan to do it in front of each other."
"I don't care. If she's trying to set us up, better to ignore her plots and proceed as we like."
"Make so both of us are focused on one thing? Hmm... I'll keep an eye out for any moves she makes while you're with Tor Salinus. But let's keep some communication open while you're there... Just in case it goes the other way."
Okay then, what are you two doing in response to all of this?
I want Donald to present me what up-to-date knowledge we have of Salt and Tor Salinus and then I'll decide how to proceed.
If Siera doesn't need me, then go back and get to work on other things.
Okay, I'll move you back over then, Alyssa.
"Well, he's Tor Salinus. Not a lot of people are awesome enough to survive," Donald says, "But I haven't heard anything new from there lately. It doesn't mean anything if he's killed everyone who has visited and seen him. That's routine." A big shrug of his shoulders, "No signs of Shar or shadows there, nothing to tip that off."
"What about Yandrazrt's contact for the crystalvein?"